Hammond, Wis. man charged in fatal hit and run; had revoked license

The western Wisconsin man suspected of fatally hitting an 84-year-old woman and driving away told police the crash occurred when he looked down to make a call on his cellphone, according to police.

Robert C. Boles, 36, was charged Friday, Sept. 21, in St. Croix County Circuit Court with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, hit and run resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license causing a death.

Boles, of Hammond, Wis., remained in the St. Croix County Jail on Friday. Cash bail has been set at $10,000.

Boles is accused of hitting Lucille M. Hansen of Roberts about 3 p.m. Wednesday while she was walking on County Road TT in the town of Warren. Police say Boles fled the scene in a 1997 Ford Taurus as Hansen lay dying in a ditch.

According to the criminal complaint:

Paramedics initially found a pulse on Hansen, but she later was declared dead at the scene.

Boles was stopped by police on St. Croix Street in Hudson, several miles from the accident scene, a short time later. There was a large hole in the windshield, damage to the vehicle's hood and what appeared to be hair stuck in glass fragments and blood on the vehicle.

In an interview with investigators, Boles allegedly said he looked down to dial his cellphone when the crash occurred. He told police he knew he hit something but thought it was a deer.

Investigators said Boles, whose license had been revoked, told them he did not stop because he was scared.

Advertisement

Asked whether that was because of the possibility that it had not been a deer he hit, Boles agreed there was a good possibility it was not a deer, according to the complaint

He allegedly told investigators he thought about stopping, but then thought about how he didn't have a license, and decided to drive away.

Boles allegedly told investigators he was in the middle lane of traffic and did not brake during the crash. He said he takes medications that can make him drowsy but did not think he had fallen asleep, according to the complaint.

A bail/bond hearing is scheduled for Monday. If convicted of the hit-and-run charge, Boles could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.